How to Prevent Bullying on the College Campuses

For educators, bullying on the campus should not be tolerated. Their responsibility is to provide a safe and harassment-free environment, where students can participate and benefit from educational programs. The best way to provide this kind of environment is to institute anti-bullying trainings and bullying prevention programs on the campuses.

Bullying is Just Not a K-12 Issue

It is a common delusion that bullying is an issue that happens in K-12, and if children just pass through it during their high school years, they can start fresh at college. In reality, this is a huge misconception. When a student has no family support, lives alone in the new space, and worries about the loans, heavy course and new lifestyle, the effect of bullying becomes much worse.

When bullies are not taught to take responsibility for their actions, they bring such tendencies with them and repeat their behaviors in college.

6 Kinds of Bullying

There are six various kinds of bullying, and they are defined as follows:

Verbal bullying. Violators use words and statements to demonstrate their power and get control over the target when adults are not around. Generally, violators use rude and endless insults to hurt and humiliate another person.

Physical bullying. This form of bullying is the most obvious, therefore the easiest to identify. Violators use physical actions to demonstrate their power and get control over the target.

Cyberbullying. This kind of bullying presupposes the use of social media, technologies, texting. All these ways enable bullies to say things, which they lack the courage to say personally. Consequently, online bullying is very cruel, as well as its results.

Relational aggression. This vile and crafty kind of bullying generally goes unnoticed by parents and teachers. Often called also “emotional bullying,” this type means social manipulation where violators hurt their peers and sabotage their social standing.

Sexual bullying. This type of bullying includes frequent, abusive and harmful actions that target a person sexually. Examples are crude and vulgar comments, uninvited touching, pornographic materials. In extreme cases, it ends with sexual assault.

Prejudicial bullying. This type of bullying bases on prejudices people has toward the representatives of other races, religions or sexual orientation.

How to Address Bullying on Your Campus

Among ways to stop bullying on the campuses are the follows:

Conducting anti-bullying trainings, which teach students and staff about the kinds of bullying, their causes and effects and safe methods to interfere. This way, people can understand that bullying is unacceptable.

Creating a campus policy that has to be clearly communicated to students and staff. This policy should state civil rights and laws, as well as criminal laws.

Encouraging students to talk a psychologist or other person they trust if they have become victims of bullying.

Reporting on criminal acts to law enforcement.

Anti-bullying trainings for students, staff and faculty are vital for preventing such kind of behavior. Such programs have to include a comprehensive overview and detailed description of causes and effects of bullying, and the danger it can create.